Job Discussion Forums

[Haseeb]

Dear all, in the know,

Thanks for all the help already extended to me by my seniors!


Having applied for about a couple of months, in vain, for ESL jobs, in Oman, now I plan visiting Oman, to see myself there the TEFL situation, and to get placed there as an ESL Teacher.

My queries:

1. Visit visa procedure, costs, time, etc., from Pakistan, and any reliable Omani visit visa consultants specially in Pakistan, with their contact numbers and addresses? Please detailed reply!

2. How much does it increase one's chances of getting a TEFL position if one is available in the country, as compared with applying online?

3. Recruitment peak season is over, but is still the recruitment in progress?

(My education: 2 masters, in English and Education (16 years each, diploma in TEFL, 20 plus year experience, including years at tertiary level)

Thanks in advance,

Haseeb, Pakistan

[nomad soul]

Since the majority of posters on this forum are native speakers, I doubt you'll get responses to your visa and job questions. I suggest you try posting on one of the general expat forums---they tend to have members representative of the diverse population of Oman. For starters, do two separate Internet searches on: pakistani expat oman and expat oman forum. You're bound to get info from fellow Pakistanis residing and working in Oman.

A comment about the partial CV you posted on one of your other threads. Your areas of expertise and skill set/competencies should be streamlined and incorporated into your experience---that is, how you employed them in your teaching. Otherwise, it's difficult to tell what exactly you did/achieved as an English language instructor over the past two decades. You can find samples of CVs on the Internet as well.

[balqis]

Can't answer most of your enquiries. Just one suggestion re. question 3.

Pakistanis are employed by a number of colleges and unis in Oman I know of - first hand-experience. Some depts exist basically only due to Pakistani profs. They are PhDs though. You are not [ I mean: not yet, no offence meant].

Many ESL teachers I have met in Oman are Pakistanis, both in unis and colleges, both private and governmental. It seems like your nationality is not a problem in Oman - I even met Pathans. Perhaps you were unlucky with your current recruitment.

Now the suggestion: the current recruitment process is still IN PROGRESS.
I know that MoHE had leased out its contracts for CoAS very late, early in July. There must be very hefty recruitment under way. As well as, once the proper recruitment is over, you will have sort of fringe recruitment going on till late Autumn, many a time desperate hunt, as many of the signed-in teachers will not show up at all or some of them will chicken out just upon their first encounter with the reality of provinces in Oman. So chances of being recruited for Oman will continue for a few more months. The chances are very real chance, so you should persevere.

But still the problem of luck remains, i.e. how to be noticed and singled out. Perhaps somebody else can suggest how to catch attention of any of the recuriters, so that you are short-listed whenever any late last-minute opportunity arises.

Maybe somebody who has such insight - i.e. a tip how to catch attention - will reply to your post. Best, somebody who might recommend you to a recruiter.

Re. point raised in nomad soul's post, i.e. your CV. I have never seen it, but I have seen CVs of some of your compatriots. They tend to be gaudy, I mean ESL gaudy, trying to prove more than is needed, often more than is sensible. They are in a way immodest and verbose. One becomes giddy, when looking at all the info, with ''God Almighty!'' sigh. They usually need a modest trim, as real quality is tacit and implied in between the lines. This I say from the little experience I have had, though on the other hand I know that Arabs like gaudy, so perhaps such CVs impress them.
Perhaps this is what nomad souls has meant? And again, no offence meant, and apologies, if one conveyed.


Don't loose your spirit, persevere and good luck!
Perhaps contact Majali again. He has a heavy duty this summer.

balqis

[nomad soul]